Retail ready packaging for carded items

ABSTRACT

A retail ready packaging system includes a convertible carton with a first plurality of slots are defined in a bottom wall adjacent a first side wall, and a second plurality of slots defined in the bottom wall adjacent a second side wall. A plurality of cards are included, wherein each card is seated in one of the slots of the first plurality of slots and in an opposed one of the slots of the second plurality of slots. Each card has a respective foot panel foldably attached to a main panel of the card, wherein the foot panel sits adjacent the bottom wall, and wherein the main panel of the card extends upward from the foot panel toward a top wall of the carton.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to packaging, and more particularly toretail ready packaging for carded items.

2. Description of Related Art

Typical carded items hang from peg hooks and must be hung one at a time.To avoid the time consuming manual task, retail ready packaging can beused, in which the carded items are displayed from a carton bottom. Thecards tend to lean and shift so that the presentation of the cards within the carton bottom is non-uniform.

The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for theirintended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improvedsystems and methods for retail ready packaging for carded items. Thisdisclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY

A retail ready packaging system includes a convertible carton with abottom wall, a top wall opposed to the bottom wall. A first side wallconnects between the bottom wall and the top wall. A second side wall isopposed to the first side wall and connects between the bottom wall andthe top wall. The carton includes a front wall and a back wall opposedto the front wall, wherein each of the front and back walls connects tothe bottom wall, the top wall, the first side wall, and the second sidewall. A first plurality of slots are defined in the bottom wall adjacentthe first side wall, and a second plurality of slots are defined in thebottom wall adjacent the second side wall. A plurality of cards areincluded, wherein each card is seated in one of the slots of the firstplurality of slots and in an opposed one of the slots of the secondplurality of slots. Each card has a respective foot panel foldablyattached to a main panel of the card, wherein the foot panel sitsadjacent the bottom wall, and wherein the main panel of the card extendsupward from the foot panel toward the top wall.

A line of weakness can be defined through the first and second sidewalls, the back wall, and the front wall for conversion of theconvertible carton from a shipping configuration in which the cards arecontained within the convertible carton to a retail displayconfiguration in which the cards are exposed for retail display. Arespective lunate perforation can be included, connected to the line ofweakness in each of the back wall, the first side wall, and the secondside wall.

The bottom wall can be defined by a bottom front flap foldably connectedto the front wall, a bottom first side flap foldably connected to thefirst side wall, a bottom second side flap foldably connected to thesecond side wall, and a bottom back flap foldably connected to the backwall. The first plurality of slots can be defined in the bottom firstside flap, and the second plurality of slots are defined in the bottomsecond side flap. The top wall can be defined by a top front flapfoldably connected to the front wall, a top first side flap foldablyconnected to the first side wall, a top second side flap foldablyconnected to the second side wall, and a top back flap foldablyconnected to the back wall. The carton can be formed from a blank,wherein the front wall is defined by a front panel of the blank, theback wall is defined by a back panel of the blank, the first side wallis defined by a first side panel of the blank, and wherein the secondside wall is defined by the second side panel.

A plurality of side tabs can be folded inward from the second side wallfor engaging the cards to assist the slots in maintaining orientationand spacing of the cards. The side tabs can number one greater than theslots in the first plurality of slots.

A blank for a carded item can include a main panel defining a top edgeand two opposed side edges extending from the top edge. A foot panel canbe foldably connected to the main panel along a fold line. At each endof the fold line there can be a cut extending inward from the respectiveone of the side edges. The cuts can each define a foot tab that extendsfurther from the top edge than does the fold line.

A peg hole can be cut out of the main panel for hanging the blank from apeg and hook display. A blister pack containing a product can be affixedto the main panel.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subjectdisclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentstaken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosureappertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices andmethods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation,preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein belowwith reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carded item constructed in accordancewith the present disclosure, showing the foot;

FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of a convertible carton inaccordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 2 , showing thebottom wall;

FIGS. 4-5 are perspective views of the carton of FIG. 2 , showing thecarton during conversion;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a carton of FIG. 2 , showing the cardsready for retail after conversion of the carton;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton of FIG. 2 ; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank for forming a card as shown in FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like referencenumerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subjectdisclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and notlimitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a retail ready packagingsystem in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 2 and isdesignated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments ofsystems in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, areprovided in FIGS. 1 and 3-8 , as will be described. The systems andmethods described herein can be used to provide for a retail readypackage that maintains uniform spacing and orientation of a productwithin the package, where product items can be displayed from the retailready package.

Each card 132 has a respective foot panel 134 foldably attached to amain panel 136 of the card along fold line 138, wherein the foot panel134 sits adjacent the bottom wall 104, and wherein the main panel 136 ofthe card extends upward from the foot panel 134 toward the top wall 106.As shown in FIG. 8 , a blank 188 for a carded item includes a main panel136 defining a top edge 192 and two opposed side edges 194, 196extending from the top edge 192. A foot panel 134 is foldably connectedto the main panel 136 along a fold line 200. At each end of the foldline 200 there is a cut 202, 204 extending inward from the respectiveone of the side edges 194, 196. The cuts 202, 204 each define a foot tab206, 208 that extends further from the top edge 192 than does the foldline 200. A peg hole 210 is cut out of the main panel 136 for optionallyhanging the blank 188 from a peg and hook display. A blister pack 212containing a product 214 is affixed to the main panel 136, as shown inFIG. 1 .

With reference now to FIG. 2 , the retail ready packaging system 100includes a convertible carton 102 with a bottom wall 104, a top wall 106opposed to the bottom wall. A first side wall 108 connects between thebottom wall 104 and the top wall 106 along fold line 110, 111. A secondside wall 112 is opposed to the first side wall 108 and connects betweenthe bottom wall 104 and the top wall 106 along fold lines 114, 115. Thecarton 102 includes a front wall 116 and a back wall 118 opposed to thefront wall 116, wherein each of the front and back walls 116, 118connects to the bottom wall 104 along fold lines 120, 121, the top wall106 along fold lines 122, 123, the first side wall 108 along fold lines124, 125, and the second side wall 112 along fold line 126.

A first plurality of slots 128 a-e are defined in the bottom wall 104adjacent the first side wall 108, and a second plurality of slots 130a-e are defined in the bottom wall 104 adjacent the second side wall112. As shown in FIGS. 5-6 , a plurality of cards 132 are included,wherein each card 132 is seated in one of the slots 128 a -128 e of thefirst plurality of slots 128 a-e and in an opposed one of the slots 130a-130 e of the second plurality of slots 130 a-e. FIG. 2 shows in thecut away one of the cards 132, including the foot 198 and tab 208 whenseated inside the carton 102. The foot 198 helps keep the main panel 136of the card 132 upright, and the tabs 208 engage the slots 128 a-e and130 a-e to help maintain the spacing between the cards 132.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 , a line of weakness 139 is definedthrough the first and second side walls 108, 112, the back wall 118, andthe front wall 116 for conversion of the convertible carton 102 from ashipping configuration (e.g. as shown in FIG. 2 ) in which the cards 132are contained within the convertible carton 102 to a retail displayconfiguration (e.g. as shown in FIG. 6 ) in which the cards 132 areexposed for retail display. A respective lunate perforation 140 isincluded, connected to the line of weakness 139 in each of the back wall118, the first side wall 108, and the second side wall 112. A user canbreak the lunate perforations 140, as shown in FIG. 4 , then break thetop portion 150 of the carton 102 away from the lower portion 152, asshown in FIG. 5 , to leave the converted carton 102 as shown in FIG. 6ready for retail display of the cards 132. The tabs 186 are defined inthe bottom portion of the carton 102, i.e. the portion that remainsafter conversion of the carton 102 as shown in FIG. 6 . Those skilled inthe art will readily appreciate that the line of weakness 139 can followany suitable path around the carton 102 without departing from the scopeof this invention, including paths that reach the top wall 106 (shown inFIG. 2 ), e.g. for a full height back wall 116 (labeled in FIG. 7 ) whenthe carton 102 is converted.

With reference now to FIG. 7 , which shows a plan view of a blank forforming a carton as shown in FIGS. 2-6 . The bottom wall 104 is definedby a bottom front flap 142 foldably connected to the front wall 116along fold line 120, a bottom first side flap 146 foldably connected tothe first side wall 108 along fold line 111, a bottom second side flap150 foldably connected to the second side wall 112 along fold line 115,and a bottom back flap 154 foldably connected to the back wall 118 alongfold line 121. The first plurality of slots 128 a-e are defined in thebottom first side flap 146, and the second plurality of slots 130 a-eare defined in the bottom second side flap 150. The top wall 106 isdefined by a top front flap 158 foldably connected to the front wall 116along fold line 122, a top first side flap 162 foldably connected to thefirst side wall 108 along fold line 110, a top second side flap 166foldably connected to the second side wall 112 along fold line 114, anda top back flap 170 foldably connected to the back wall 118 along foldline 123. The carton 102 is formed from a blank 174, wherein the frontwall 116 is defined by a front panel 176 of the blank 174, the back wall118 is defined by a back panel 178 of the blank 174, the first side wall108 is defined by a first side panel 180 of the blank 174, and whereinthe second side wall 112 is defined by a second side panel 182 of theblank 174.

When erecting the carton 102 the flaps 142, 154 are folded after flaps146, 150 and can be adhered to the outer surface of the flaps 146, 150.This avoids flaps 142, 154 interfering with the function of the slots128, 130 at the ends of the carton 102 near the flaps 142, 154. Thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate that if slots 128, 130(and/or tabs 202, 208 of the cards 132) are omitted, the flaps 142, 154,146, 150 can be in any suitable order.

With continued reference to FIG. 7 , a plurality of side tabs 186 arefolded inward from the second side wall 112 along fold lines 189 forengaging the cards 132 to assist the slots 128 a-e, 130 in maintainingorientation and spacing of the cards 132. The side tabs number onegreater than the slots in the first plurality of slots (those skilled inthe art will readily appreciate that any suitable number of slots 128,130 and tabs 186 can be used without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure). The blank 174 can also include a glue tab 216 foldablyconnected to the front wall 116 along fold line 217 for engaging aportion of the side wall 112. Those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that while tabs 186 are only shown on one side wall 112 ofthe carton 102, tabs 186 can be included on either sidewall 112, 108, orcan be omitted from either or both sidewalls 112, 108 without departingfrom the scope of this disclosure.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described aboveand shown in the drawings, provide for a retail ready package thatmaintains uniform spacing and orientation of a carded product within thepackage, where product items can be displayed from the retail readypackage. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure havebeen shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/ormodifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope ofthe subject disclosure.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A blank for a retail ready packaging systemcomprising: a plurality of panels foldably connected together, with aplurality of flaps foldably connected to the panels, wherein the panelsand flaps are configured to be formed into a convertible carton with abottom wall, a top wall opposed to the bottom wall, a first side wallconnecting between the bottom wall and the top wall, a second side wallopposed to the first side wall and connecting between the bottom walland the top wall, a front wall, and a back wall opposed to the frontwall, wherein each of the front and back walls connects to the bottomwall, the top wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall; andwherein a first plurality of slots are defined in the bottom walladjacent the first side wall, and a second plurality of slots aredefined in the bottom wall adjacent the second side wall.
 11. The blankas recited in claim 10, wherein a line of weakness is defined throughthe first and second side walls, the back wall, and the front wall forconversion of the convertible carton from a shipping configuration inwhich the cards are contained within the convertible carton to a retaildisplay configuration in which the cards are exposed for retail display.12. The blank as recited in claim 11, wherein a respective lunateperforation is included, connected to the line of weakness in each ofthe back wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall.
 13. Theblank as recited in claim 10, wherein the bottom wall is defined by abottom front flap foldably connected to the front wall, a bottom firstside flap foldably connected to the first side wall, a bottom secondside flap foldably connected to the second side wall, and a bottom backflap foldably connected to the back wall.
 14. The blank as recited inclaim 13, wherein the first plurality of slots are defined in the bottomfirst side flap, and wherein the second plurality of slots are definedin the bottom second side flap.
 15. The blank as recited in claim 10,wherein the top wall is defined by a top front flap foldably connectedto the front wall, a top first side flap foldably connected to the firstside wall, a top second side flap foldably connected to the second sidewall, and a top back flap foldably connected to the back wall.
 16. Theblank as recited in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of sidetabs folded inward from the second side wall for engaging the cards toassist the slots in maintaining orientation and spacing of the cards.17. The blank as recited in claim 10, wherein the side tabs number onegreater than the slots in the first plurality of slots.
 18. A blank fora carded item comprising: a main panel defining a top edge and twoopposed side edges extending from the top edge; and a foot panelfoldably connected to the main panel along a fold line.
 19. The blank asrecited in claim 18, wherein at each end of the fold line there is a cutextending inward from the respective one of the side edges, wherein thecuts each define a foot tab that extends further from the top edge thandoes the fold line.
 20. The blank as recited in claim 18, furthercomprising a peg hole cut out of the main panel for hanging the blankfrom a peg and hook display.
 21. The blank as recited in claim 19,further comprising a blister pack containing a product affixed to themain panel.